Read everything.

In defense of comic books, cookbooks, novels, and everything in between.

There is an ever widening gap in almost every major “domain” of life. For many people, they feel helpless. What could they possibly do to not get left behind?

I won’t pretend to be smart or skilled enough to give you a roadmap for bridging every chasm, but there is one thing you can start doing right now that will have a dramatic impact on every dimension of your life.

• It’s free.

• It’s readily available.

• It’s demonstrably proven to increase your quality of life.

Read. Read everything.

On my nightstand, you can find the Bible (currently reading James), a Spider Man comic book, Dostoevsky, and a non-fiction book on the structure of the brain. I find myself wandering through Paul Pastor’s new collection of poems (The Locust Years). On my Kindle, I am plowing through Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive. I am a subscriber to Ted Gioia, Shea Serrano, Steven Hyden, and George Saunders here on Substack. My current audiobook listen is Matt Dinniman’s new book about invaders on a space colony.

You can do this too. Get a library card, borrow a book, cancel a monthly subscription to a streamer and use the money to buy and read one book a month.

I just finished George Saunder’s new novel, Vigil, in two days. It made me cry. I wanted to hug my daughters after I read it. I watched a bird outside my window for ten minutes without picking up my phone.

We are quickly approaching a time when one of the largest “gaps” will be between those who read and those who cannot read.

Now, if you are reading this, you’re on Substack. Odds are, you are probably some version of a consistent reader. But, you can still help, fill your house with books. Give them away as gifts. Send articles that impact you to your friends and tell them, “I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.”

We need word readers, word workers, and word sharers.

I don’t care if you and your friend talk about loss and grief in the story of Miles Morales’ Spiderman or if you hand copy a recipe you loved from a cookbook for a friend - be someone who picks words up, reads them, and gives them away.

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If you are looking for your next read - consider grabbing a copy of one of my books:

• Home with God: Our Union with Christ || All about what it means to be “one with Jesus.” (Also available as an audiobook.)

• Formed for Fellowship: Becoming what You Behold || A practical, no frills, guide to living the ordinary Christian life. (Also available as an audiobook.)

• The Dragon Slayer and His Super Special Suit || My recently released kids picture book that imaginatively retells the gospel story with a focus on the armor of God.